Bang Bang Bang...Don't Like GM Foods? Too Bad

1 Jun 2007 12:11:51 +0100 From: Sanders Research Associates
Subject: SRA: The Heron's Latest Catch: US House May Prevent States
from Protecting Food Supply
The Heron's Latest Catch US House May Prevent States from Protecting
Food Supply
By: Britt Bailey -- www.gmwatch.org Date: 01-06-2007
House Subcommittee Approves Language Preempting State & Local
Restriction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Other
Questionable Foods.The United States House of Representatives
Committee on Agriculture has begun the process of writing the 2007
Farm Bill. Of grave concern is language added and approved by the
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry that preempts state
restrictions of foods or agricultural products deregulated by the
USDA. The added language reads, "no State or locality shall make
any law prohibiting the use in commerce of an article that the
Secretary of Agriculture has inspected and passed; or determined
to be of non-regulated status."
____________________ Original source URL:
http://www.sandersresearch.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id 39
US House May Prevent States from Protecting Food Supply
By Britt Bailey -- www.gmwatch.org May/30/2007
House Subcommittee Approves Language Preempting State & Local
Restriction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Other
Questionable Foods.
The United States House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture
has begun the process of writing the 2007 Farm Bill. Of grave concern
is language added and approved by the Subcommittee on Livestock,
Dairy and Poultry that preempts state restrictions of foods or
agricultural products deregulated by the USDA. The added language
reads, "no State or locality shall make any law prohibiting the use
in commerce of an article that the Secretary of Agriculture has
inspected and passed; or determined to be of non-regulated status."
The preemption language has been traced to Iowa Representative and
Subcommittee Chair, Leonard Boswell. His intention is to prohibit
state and local policies banning the sale of products approved by
USDA and other regulatory agencies. The broad scope of the language
would affect state and local prohibitions on the cultivation of
genetically modified crops, bans on the sale of rBGH milk, and the
outlawing of foie gras for starters.
At a time of pervasive food contamination and consumer displeasure
with the social, ethical, and environmental aspects of food processes
and production, the addition of a few lines tucked into an immense
bill could weaken carefully adopted consumer protections.
If the preemption language is adopted into the final Farm Bill,
some of the state laws that may be affected include:
Genetically Modified Foods:
California and Arkansas are currently debating prohibitions on the
growing GMO rice. The major rice growing states are concerned after
the 2006 announcement that several un-approved varieties of engineered
rice contaminated rice crops resulting in major financial losses
for US farmers.
Four California counties and two cities have adopted prohibitions
on the growing of genetically modified crops in order to protect
their organic and conventional foods.
rBGH Milk:
In 2006, Vermont's Agricultural Secretary, Steve Kerr, urged dairy
farmers to stop using rBGH, or recombinant bovine growth hormone,
in dairy cows.
New York City is in the process of considering a ban on the sale
of rBGH milk.
*Foie Gras:
On grounds of inhumane treatment, the City of Chicago banned the
sale of foie gras in restaurants. California has banned the
force-feeding of birds to produce the product, ending the practice
by 2012.
In addition, the preemption language raises concerns that states
would be barred from taking action when a food safety threats arise.
For example, states could be barred from calling for recalls or
prohibiting the sale of tainted meats, peanut butter, or other foods
that have passed USDA inspection. Advocates favoring the preemption
language include United Egg Producers, National Pork Producers,
National Milk Producers Federation, and the National Cattleman's
Beef Association.
The Farm Bill will be voted on by the House Committee on Agriculture
before going to the House floor and then on to the Senate. To take
action to oppose this disastrous preemption language, send a letter
and/or contact:
The House Agricultural Committee, snipped-for-privacy@mail.house.gov
Your House Representative, www.house.gov/writerep/ Your Senator,
www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Stay updated about the 2007 Farm Bill as it moves through the House
of Representatives, agriculture.house
[Published May 28, 2007] --

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